Immunologic burden links periodontitis to acute coronary syndrome: levels of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in gingival granulation tissue

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the proportional variation of macrophage and T-lymphocytes subpopulations in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, its association with periodontitis (P), and to compare with control individuals.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Three groups of subjects participated: one group consisted of 17 ACS patients with P (ACS + P), another group consisted of 22 no ACS + P patients, and a control group consisted of 23 participants with gingivitis (no ACS + G). Macrophage, CD4 + , and CD8 + T-lymphocytes and CD4 + /CD8 + ratio values in gingival tissue were determined histometrically.

RESULTS

Significant differences were found among three groups regarding the mean number of macrophage (no ACS + P > ACS + P > no ACS + G; p < 0.05) and CD8 + T-lymphocytes (no ACS + P > ACS + P > no ACS + G; p < 0.05). Significant variations were observed between the groups both CD4 + T-lymphocytes densities (ACS + P > no ACS + P and ACS + P > no ACS + G; p < 0.05) and CD4 + / CD8 + ratio (no ACS + P < no ACS + G and ACS + P < no ACS + G; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The increased number of CD8 + T-lymphocytes in both group ACS + P and group no ACS + P resulted in a reduction of the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio in gingival tissue when compared with no ACS + G group.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The decrease of CD4 + /CD8 + ratio in gingival tissue reflects periodontitis and may be associated with severe adverse outcomes in people with ACS.

Distribution of nerve endings in human thumb interphalangeal joint

This study aims to quantitatively analyze the distribution of encapsulated nerve endings in the human thumb interphalangeal (IP) joint capsule. There are three types of nerve endings. Type-I nerve endings (Ruffini-like ending) sense pressure changes, Type II (Pacini-like ending) nerve endings contribute to the kinesthetic sense, and Type III (Golgi-like ending) nerve ending provides proprioceptive information. We dissected five right thumbs IP joints from freshly frozen cadavers (5 men). The mean age of the cadavers at the time of death was 63.4 years (55-73). Sections were stained with the hematoxylin-eosin and antiprotein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) to identify encapsulated nerve endings. Transverse sections were cut and divided into volar, dorsal, and then into two equal parts, proximal and distal. The density of encapsulated nerve endings compared to volar versus dorsal and proximal versus distal regions was examined. This study showed that type 1 nerve endings were more common in the distal parts of the IP joint (p < 0.05). Also, type 3 nerve endings were observed in the thumb IP joint. There was no difference between regions in type II and type III nerve endings. The current study demonstrates that the distribution of encapsulated nerve endings in the IP joint is different from the PIP and DIP joints. Moreover, further studies are required to understand the thumb's physiology.

Phenolic Compound Profiles, Cytotoxic, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Potentials and Molecular Docking Studies of Astragalus gymnolobus Methanolic Extracts

Since Astragalus is a genus with many important medicinal plant species, the present work aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and some biological activities of Astragalus gymnolobus. The methanolic fractions of four organs (stems, flowers, leaves, root and whole plant) were quantified and identified by Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis. Hesperidin, hyperoside, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid and p-coumaric acid were identified as main compounds among the extracts. Among all cells, leaf methanol (Lm) extract had the highest cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells (IC50 = 0.069 μg/mL). Hesperidin, the most abundant compound in A. gymnolobus extract, was found to show a strong negative correlation with the cytotoxic effect observed in HeLa cells according to Pearson correlation test results and to have the best binding affinity to targeted proteins by docking studies. The antimicrobial activity results indicated that the most susceptible bacterium against all extracts was identified as Streptococcus pyogenes with 9-11 mm inhibition zone and 8192 mg/mL MIC value. As a result of the research, it was suggested that A. gymnolobus could be considered as a promising source that contributes to the fight against cancer.

Microgeographic speciation in a complex of Anatolian bush crickets facilitated by fast evolution of reproductive isolation

Identifying the drivers of microgeographic speciation (i.e., speciation over small, local geographic scales) is key to understand the origin of speciose groups. Here, we use genomic data to infer the demographic processes underlying diversification in Poecilimon luschani (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), a species complex belonging to the most diverse genus of bush crickets from the Mediterranean region (>170 taxa) that comprises three recognized subspecies with small allopatric distributions in the topographically complex Teke Peninsula, southwestern Anatolia. Phylogenomic reconstructions that include all other taxa within the species group confirmed that subspecies of P. luschani originated from a common ancestor during the Pleistocene, supporting recent (<1 Ma) diversification within a small geographical area (ca. 120 × 80 km). Genetic clustering analyses corroborated the distinctiveness of each subspecies and the cohesiveness of their respective populations, with abrupt genetic discontinuities coinciding with contemporary range boundaries. Indeed, our analyses uncovered the presence of two sympatric cryptic sister lineages that diverged <300 ka ago and do not admix despite being co-distributed. Collectively, these results support that all lineages within the complex represent independently evolving entities corresponding to full-fledged species. Statistical evaluation of alternative models of speciation strongly supports a scenario of divergence in isolation followed by a period of limited gene flow during the last glacial period, when all lineages experienced marked expansions according to demographic reconstructions. Our study exemplifies how localized allopatric divergence and fast evolution of reproductive isolation can promote microgeographic speciation and explain the high rates of endemism characterizing biodiversity hotspots.

Evaluation of the in vitro effects of concentrations of antibiotics on three Enterobacteriaceae isolates

Due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, bacteria are now exposed to sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of antibiotics in various environments. In recent years, exposure of bacteria to sub-MICs of antibiotics has led to the widespread emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, three bacterial species from the Enterobacteriaceae family (Raoultella ornithinolytica, Pantoea agglomerans and Klebsiella quasivariicola) were isolated from water. The antibiotic susceptibility of these bacteria to 16 antibiotics was then investigated. The effects of sub-MICs of four selected antibiotics (kanamycin, chloramphenicol, meropenem, and ciprofloxacin) on the growth, biofilm formation, surface polysaccharide production, siderophore production, morphology, and expression of the translational/transcriptional regulatory transformer gene rfaH of these bacteria were analysed. The MICs of kanamycin, chloramphenicol, meropenem, and ciprofloxacin were determined to be 1, 2, 0.03 and 0.03 µg/mL for R. ornithinolytica; 0.6, 6, 0.03 and 0.05 µg/mL for P. agglomerans; and 2, 5, 0.04 and 0.2 µg/mL for K. quasivariicola. The growth kinetics and biofilm formation ability decreased for all three isolates at sub-MICs. The surface polysaccharides of R. ornithinolytica and P. agglomerans increased at sub-MICs. There was no significant change in the siderophore activities of the bacterial isolates, with the exception of MIC/2 meropenem in R. ornithinolytica and MIC/2 kanamycin in K. quasivariicola. It was observed that the sub-MICs of meropenem and ciprofloxacin caused significant changes in bacterial morphology. In addition, the expression of rfaH in R. ornithinolytica and K. quasivariicola increased with the sub-MICs of the selected antibiotics.

Genetic characterization and population structure of six brown layer pure lines using microsatellite markers

OBJECTIVE

The first stage in both breeding and programs for the conservation of genetic resources are the identification of genetic diversity in the relevant population. The aim of the present study is to identify genetic diversity of six brown layer pure chicken lines (Rhode Island Red [RIRI, RIRII], Barred Rock [BARI, BARII], Columbian Rock [COL], and line 54 [L-54]) with microsatellite markers. Furthermore, the study aims to employ its findings to discuss the possibilities for the conservation and sustainable use of these lines that have been bred as closed populations for a long time.

METHODS

In the present study, a total number of 180 samples belonging to RIRI (n = 30), RIRII (n = 30), BARI (n = 30), BARII (n = 30), L-54 (n = 30), and COL (n = 30) lines were genotyped using 22 microsatellite loci. Microsatellite markers are extremely useful tools in the identification of genetic diversity since they are distributed throughout the eukaryotic genome in multitudes, demonstrate co-dominant inheritance and they feature a high rate of polymorphism and repeatability.

RESULTS

In this study, we found all loci to be polymorphic and identified the average number of alleles per locus to be in the range between 4.41 (BARI) and 5.45 (RIRI); the observed heterozygosity to be in the range between 0.31 (RIRII) and 0.50 (BARII); and FIS (inbreeding coefficient) values in the range between 0.16 (L-54) and 0.46 (RIRII). The FIS values obtained in this context points out to a deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium due to heterozygote deficiency in six different populations. The Neighbour-Joining tree, Factorial Correspondence Analysis and STRUCTURE clustering analyzes showed that six brown layer lines were separated according to their genetic origins.

CONCLUSION

The results obtained from the study indicate a medium level of genetic diversity, high level inbreeding in chicken lines and high level genetic differentiation between chicken lines.